and the other was a disbeliever: al-Aswad ibn Abd al-Asad ibn Abd Yalil. (1)

It was also said that this is a parable concerning Uyaynah ibn Hisn and his companions, in comparison with Salman and his companions. They were likened to two brothers from among the Children of Israel: one of them was a believer, whose name, according to Ibn Abbas, was Yehudah; Muqatil said that it was Yamlikha. The other was a disbeliever, named Qutrus; while Wahb said that his name was Qitfir. They are the two whom Allah, exalted is He, described in Surah al-Saffat.

Their story, as Abd Allah ibn al-Mubarak related from Mamar, from Ata al-Khurasani, was as follows: Two men were business partners and possessed eight thousand dinars. It was also said that they were brothers who inherited eight thousand dinars from their father, which they divided between themselves. One of them bought some land for a thousand dinars. His companion said, “O Allah, so-and-so has bought land for a thousand dinars, and I purchase from You land in Paradise for a thousand dinars.” He then gave a thousand dinars in charity.

Then his companion built a house for a thousand dinars, and the believer said, “O Allah, so-and-so has built a house for a thousand dinars, and I purchase from You a house in Paradise for a thousand dinars.” He then gave that amount in charity. Next, his companion married a woman and spent a thousand dinars on her. The believer said, “O Allah, I seek in marriage from You a woman from the women of Paradise for a thousand dinars.” So he gave a thousand dinars in charity.

Then his companion bought servants and household goods for a thousand dinars, whereupon the believer said, “O Allah, I purchase from You household goods and servants in Paradise for a thousand dinars.” So he gave a thousand dinars in charity. Afterwards, he fell into severe hardship and said, “If I were to go to my companion, perhaps he might extend some favor to me.” He sat along his companion’s route until the latter passed by with his retinue. He rose to meet him, and the other man looked at him and recognized him. He said, “Is that so-and-so?” He replied, “Yes.” He asked, “What has happened to you?” He said, “Since we last met, I have fallen into hardship, so I have come to you that you may bestow some good upon me.”

He said, “What became of your money? We divided one fortune, (2) and you took half of it.” So he told him his story. The other said, “Do you really believe in this (3)? Go away; I will give you nothing.” He drove him away. Then it was decreed that they should both die, and the following was revealed concerning them: “Then they will turn to one another, questioning each other. One of them will say, ‘I once had a companion...’” (al-Saffat 50–51).

It is also related that when he came to him, the other took him by the hand, led him around, and showed him his wealth; and it was revealed concerning them. (4)

“Set forth for them the parable of two men”: that is, mention to them the account of two men. “We made for one of them two gardens”: two orchards. “Of grapevines, and We surrounded them with date palms”: that is, We enclosed them on all sides with date palms. The term hifaf means “side,” and its plural is ahiffah. One says, “The people gathered around him,” meaning that they encircled him on all sides. “And We placed crops between them”: that is, We placed date palms around the grapevines and crops amid the grapevines.